Want to try sushi, but confused about what to eat, where to eat and how to eat? With the high popularity, demand and a wide variety of sushi available, it’s natural to be confused. But as a beginner, it’s important to be selective about the sushi that suits your taste buds best. Once someone knows what to order and where to eat quality sushi, it becomes one of the most rewarding culinary experiences.
This blog will help you find out some of the best types of sushi to enjoy as a beginner, important criteria on how to choose sushi restaurants that can bring an authentic Japanese experience and other sushi etiquette.
Introduction to Sushi
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The moment someone thinks of Japanese cuisine, sushi is usually the first thing that comes to mind. The delicate presentation and cultural significance make it a popular choice among people. Sushi is basically made with rice, sweetened with vinegar and paired with toppings like vegetables, eggs and fish. Sometimes, it may also be wrapped with seaweed.
Origin of Sushi
Sushi originally originated from Southeast Asia during the time when people were actually trying to find ways to preserve fish before refrigeration. Later, the method of using a layer of rice to preserve fish got popular among the Japanese. This method was brought by the Chinese during the 19th century to Japan, where sushi got a new form and became popular worldwide as modern sushi. Japanese gave a twist to the sushi by adding vinegar, this twist improved the overall taste of fish and rice, and significantly later, different variations of sushi were created. Now, sushi is a global dish, and fermented fish is replaced with fresh fish and rice.
How to Select a Quality Sushi Restaurant
To have the best experience while eating sushi mostly depends on the quality of sushi someone is having. And the quality varies according to the type of ingredients used, skill, experience and expertise of the chef cooking. Ambiance of a restaurant and staff behaviour are the second most important factor which makes the overall eating experience enjoyable.
In short, choosing the right place is not only about the variety in the menu available or the taste of the food, but it is also about the small details which make the process satisfying for beginners. Let’s understand few criterias to pick quality sushi restaurants:
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Japanese Style Restaurants
Restaurants who mainly focus on Japanese cuisine are a better option in comparison with other restaurants. Their main focus is to maintain the authenticity of cuisine while serving the best quality and taste. These restaurants in particular focus on using fresh ingredients available in the market so the dishes retain their best flavours.
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Diverse Menu Availability
Diversity in the menu allows people to choose from a variety of options available. It also shows the professionalism of the restaurant in its ability to serve a variety of dishes and tastes together.
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Skilled and Experienced Chef
A good chef who is not only experienced and skilled but also understands japanese cuisine and culture closely has the ability to preserve the original flavour of each ingredient used. Fully trained and expert chefs ensure that the meal not only looks appetizing but it also maintains the authenticity of the food.
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Fresh Ingredients used
A restaurant which maintains good hygiene should always be a top priority while selecting where to eat. Sushi often uses raw fish while preparing the dish, if the freshness of the ingredients selected is not taken care of, it can poorly affect the taste and health of people.
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Good Customer Reviews
A good restaurant always has a good rating from its customers. Check for the reviews or feedback on the quality of food served, service quality, ambiance and space of the restaurants. Restaurants with more good reviews and especially recent ones are definitely worth trying.
Best Sushi Options to Try as a Beginner
If a person is vegetarian or non-vegetarian but scared to try raw fish at first, they can try multiple options available, best suited for beginners:
- Veggie-Maki Roll: Veggie maki roll includes vegetable based roll like cucumber roll, avocado roll, without adding any fish inside. The best way to eat them is to dip them in soy sauce and eat using your hands.
- California Roll: These sushi rolls are non-vegetarian options but are cooked. They are filled with imitation crab, cucumber, and avocado in a layer of sushi rice outside.
- Seared/Cooked Nagiri: In seared nagiri, different options like seared salmon nigiri, cooked omelet (tamago) nigiri are available.
- Tempura Roll: These tempura rolls can be the best choice for people who want to try non-veg sushi, but don’t want to go for raw. These rolls are filled with seafood and vegetables, giving it a little crispy texture different from other rolls.
Sushi Etiquate
Let’s understand a few sushi etiquette tips which can make the overall eating experience more enjoyable:
- Use Hands: Traditionally, sushi is eaten by using hands, so if someone doesn’t know how to use chopsticks, using hands to eat nigiri is perfectly fine.
- Avoid Mixing Soy Sauce and Wasabi: Instead of mixing both the sauces, soya and wasabi, directly together, try to lightly dab them onto the sushi.
- Eat Sushi Pieces in One Bite: To fully enjoy the flavour of sushi, it must be eaten in one bite. Cutting it into halves can make it less appetizing.
- Make Sure to Hold Sushi Properly: To hold sushi properly, it should be grabbed gently. The placement of the thumb and middle fingers should be on the sides, while slightly resting the index finger on the topping.
Conclusion
Choosing the right restaurant and knowing what to eat as a beginner helps in elevating the overall experience. By considering factors like freshness of meal, authenticity, experienced and expert chefs, it can ensure a memorable meal.
If you are exploring a new sushi restaurant in Dubai, Nazcaa can be thе best choice among the top rеstaurants. Nazcaa is a Japanese Peruvian restaurant on the 12th floor of dubai mall. Here one can enjoy the authentic Japanese meal with sweeping skyline views, sparkling poolside ambiance and breathtaking view of burj khalifa.
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